Mountaintop Ultimatum Part - 2
This a true story of a husband and wife. Like every relationship there are lots of twists and turns (some unexpected) but its 100% non-fiction. This is the second part of the series and there will be more parts to follow that span several years, so if you enjoy it I hope you look for my other submissions in the near future.
- The Stranger in the room
The following morning it was Saturday and we were greeted with sunshine through the draped windows. Outside I caught a glimpse of the fogged blanketed mountaintops. They are called the "Smokey Mountains" for a reason. I quickly got out of bed and put on a t-shirt and shorts. I found the coffeepot in the kitchen and started to brew a fresh pot of coffee.
My wife who was still sleeping began to stir a little as the smell of coffee filled the air of our small cabin. I poured us both a cup. She likes her coffee with just Hazelnut creamer, and A LOT of it. I like mine with just a little creamer, but with sugar also. My wife got out of bed and wrapped herself in the blanket and entered the main living room. We went out outside and sat in the Adirondack chairs that were in the yard, and just took in the gorgeous views in front of us.
In the distance I could see the foggy blanket rolling around in the valleys as the light breeze blew. It was mid-August, but in the mountains the air still has a slight crispness to it. We both wished was a little bit chillier though. After our coffee, went back in the cabin and got dressed for the day ahead. We had a train ride to catch in just a few hours, and we were both really excited about it.
We left the cabin and did some sightseeing in the area around where we were staying. The town was a small mountain town with just a few thousand people. Like most other towns, it had a small and very old downtown area filled with antique shops and locally owned eateries and boutiques. We decided to save exploring town for after the train ride. So, we just drove around looking at the mountains, and streams, and even found a few small waterfalls that always seem to have cold mountain water flowing over them.
Before we knew it, it was time to board the train. We rushed into town, and found our way to the small train depot to retrieve our boarding passes. This train is a real steam driven locomotive. It's strictly for tourism since the rail line doesn't really go anywhere as it was abandoned long ago. Soon we were on our way, and the rail line followed along side a large lake. As it winded through the terrain we crossed several bridges, and through a few tunnels.
We were treated with a light box lunch that I pre-selected when I made the reservations over a month prior. It was a little under 2hrs to our destination at a rafting and adventure center that was tucked away deep in the mountains. This in the end of the rail line also, and as the groups of people toured the grounds, the train left the depot and went to a turnaround area for our return trip back to town. We had about an hour to enjoy the layover stop which is filled with touristy trinkets and souvenirs to buy. We browsed but didn't really buy anything.
Soon the train whistles were blowing signaling us to reboard for the trip back down the mountain. It was a gorgeous ride back but it went by much quicker than expected. I remember just watching my wife's emotions on her face as she peered out and into the wilderness. The sunlight through the trees lit her face up, and for a while she sat with her eyes closed just breathing in the mountain air. I could see a tear well up in her eye just before she opened them again. She was truly at peace for those few peaceful moments. The stress of life had escaped her, and she was one with nature if only for a brief time. She looked happy. She is a beautiful woman, and at that moment I loved her deeper than I ever had before.